A 2am print run for the Liverpool Daily Post ensured fans returning home to John Lennon Airport after Liverpool’s Champions League win read the story of their team’s victory first in the Post.

Thousands of extra copies were printed complete with an eight-page pull-out with comment, pictures and reaction from Istanbul in Turkey, where the cup final took place.

The Post had three reporters at the stadium and the incredible night of football – which saw Liverpool pull back from a 3-0 reverse at half time to win on penalties after extra time.

Careful forward planning and a dedicated late shift worked to pull the first five pages of the paper and fill the space with news of the triumph instead.

The front page “Kings of Europe” came as a relief to acting editor Rob Irvine.

He said: “The front and first four pages are filled with staff reports from Istanbul and staff pictures of Liverpool fans celebrating, as well as the reactions of the team and the fans.

“We said beforehand at the editorial conferences that the team would either be walloped or the game would go to penalties.

“Fortunately for us, both these things happened.

“At half time we were planning our alternative strategy. We were more than happy to tear that up!

“The first deliveries of the paper will be to meet fans returning home. The first paper they read will be the Daily Post.”

The Post’s sister paper, the Liverpool Echo, was planning a 6.30am print run today, and is set to cover the team’s victory parade in Liverpool this afternoon with a special late edition too.

Acting assistant editor Andy Campbell said last night: “I’ve just driven in and the city’s buzzing.

“We’re running a 12-page supplement plus three pages of sport and another nine of news coverage and reaction at the front of the paper.

”We have two photographers, a news reporter and two sports reporters in Istanbul to provide the copy and pictures for that.”

Tomorrow will also see an early print run, to bring readers an eight-page supplement of the 7pm victory parade.